Big News: My New Nanotechnology Book is Available!

Ready for more book news? OK, here goes. My newest children's book is ready to order now. And here it is!

This book is part of Norwood House Press's TechBytes series, and it's all about the amazing world of nanotechnology. Here's a brief description:

Nanotechnology allows scientists to work with tiny particles. This can help engineers create smaller products and let doctors check people's health. This evolving technology creates more durable buildings and is used in the suits worn by astronauts. Learn about the uses of nanotechnology and how this field can shape the future.

And here's a description of the TechBytes series:

Amazing technological breakthroughs are happening all the time. Scientists and engineers bring new ideas to life, and businesses make them real. Tech Byes: High-Tech explores some of the extraordinary devices and systems that are changing the modern world. Explore the history of these high-tech innovations, what obstacles their inventors encountered along the way, and how these technologies can become a part of society's culture. Supports STEM and NGSS standards. Each book contains fast facts, a glossary, an index, and places to go for more information.

You can find the book on the Norwood House Press website, here:

https://www.norwoodhousepress.com/nanotechnology.html

Or you can find it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Nanotechnology-Tech-Bytes-George-Anthony/dp/1684042151/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1531153785&sr=1-3

Or order it through your favorite independent bookstore. And go VISIT your favorite independent bookstore, because, well, indie bookstores are fun to visit.

Oh, and one last thing. I've put a lot of work into my writing lately, and sometimes I wonder if the long hours I put in outside of spending time with the family and my day job (with little sleep, mind you) are worth it, but when I see things like this, I find it so surreal and it's suddenly all worth it. Who would've thought that I could get books that I wrote in my own library??

(And no, that hold placed on my book was not made by me - that would be weird anyway, lol. Someone requested it before it's even been catalogued!)

My First Book Review!

More exciting news! I have just received my FIRST EVER review of one of my books!

The School Library Journal provided a review of the Understanding the Basics series offered by The Child's World, in which my book How to Read Scratch Computer Code is included.

Here is the review, which  you can also check out here if you click on the Reviews tab: https://childsworld.com/shop/show/6944

A Review of "Understanding the Basics" in School Library Journal

Reviewed on 1 April 2018

These guides develop skill sets that are easily transferable to schoolwork, home life, and future jobs. In Calendars and Clocks, digital takes a backseat to analog for a truly introductory lesson about units of time using a familiar clockface with three hands. The back-to-basics focus covers a great deal of terminology, and the individual authors are consistent in offering a rigorous level of detail. Nutrition Labels, for example, not only explains what protein, calcium, fat, and carbs are, but matches photos of common food sources and how the body uses them to best advantage. Scratch Computer Code will walk junior techies through step-by-step screenshots of sprites and blocks. Color-coded vocabulary in text matches glossary colors, and readers are quizzed at the end as a self-check for understanding. VERDICT Interdisciplinary and timeless enough to ensure a long shelf life. A fine addition to early nonfiction collections.

TWO Bits of Writing News

I'm back with more writing news.

First, my first physical book, How to Read Scratch Computer Code, is now available on the Child's World website! I'm so excited for people to have the opportunity to get it. It's a great introduction to the world of Scratch programming for young kids ages 6-9.

The book is part of The Child's World Understanding the Basics series, which includes How to Read Nutrition Labels and How to Read Clocks and Calendars.

I'm including links with info about the book, the entire series, and the publisher again in case anyone wants to order it.

How to Read Scratch Computer Code:
http://childsworld.com/shop/show/6944

The Understanding the Basics series:
http://childsworld.com/shop/show/7085

The Child's World:
http://childsworld.com/about

You can also order it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or through your favorite independent bookstore. Also, feel free to mention it to your local libraries and schools so they can stock it too.


Second, I have a BRAND NEW book available at the Reading A-Z website called I Collect That, co-written with Elizabeth Jane Pustilnik. It is an early reader book for kids age 7 (level N) that talks about the concept of collections and some interesting and odd things people like to collect.

The book is also available at the H and K levels. You can find it at the Reading A-Z website, here:

https://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/book/?id=3481



While I'm shamelessly plugging things, check out my past books as well, here:

The Variety Show, an anthology of short stories for kids ages 6-7, created by members of my writing group, The Magic Story Makers. My short story, "Conjuring Up Trouble", is included inside.

At Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Variety-Show-Magic-Story-Makers/dp/150059802X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1522084135&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Variety+Show



I'm the Small One, an early reader for kids age 7 (level P), about Sophie's frustration with being small and how she learns that being small may not be so bad after all.

The book is a multilevel reading book for younger kids as well (levels J and M).

At Reading A-Z:

https://www.readinga-z.com/books/leveled-books/book/?id=3351



There's more to come! What? you ask. Well... here's a hint... you can put my name in amazon.com and see what comes up... but I'll report more on that later, when I have more info.

Thanks for following and for all your support!

My Second Children's Book - or, When Two Worlds Collide

You know the old writing adage - Write what you know? Well, I decided to do that this time, and here's the end result. My second children's book!

And here's the proud author.

And here are a few links with info about the book and the publisher.

How to Read Scratch Computer Code:
http://childsworld.com/shop/show/6944

The Understanding the Basics series:
http://childsworld.com/shop/show/7085

Some info about The Child's World:
http://childsworld.com/about


When the idea for this book was presented to me, I couldn't pass it up. Here was a chance to write about something I knew a lot about - programming. Although Scratch is a language I was only familiar with and had never used before, it was very easy to learn, and my own knowledge of programming concepts guided me along the way in my research.

I suppose it was inevitable that my two careers would collide. I've been in the software business professionally since 1993, but I was using computers long before that. And writing even before that, since elementary school. When I first starting using computers, one of the things I loved to do was talk to people from around the state on BBSs (bulletin board systems, the precursors to the internet and the WWW as we know them today). Many of my early stories were posted on Drag-Net, a BBS run out of Burrillville, RI. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who has read them), only a couple of those stories survived. Unless the SysOp somehow manages to resurrect the BBS server someday. ** hint hint, John, if you're reading **

If I have one lesson to pass along about this strange journey I'm on, it's this - never give up on ANY of your passions. You never know when they might come to fruition. And they may even become intertwined someday in unique ways.

More to come, so stick around!